Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1887-12-24
ONE CHRISTMAS.
ny OLIVE HARPER.

BY OLIVE HARPER.
stThattlere Marthy Avery Is the fooiishz
est critter that eyer lived, ] swan tolnaG!s
Here's her father dead, and she left with
all that brood of her stepmother's yonna
ones; and instead OF sendil' ,em to their
grandfather she ups and says she is gasil'
to support 'em herself. Shevon't get my
Jabez if that's her idee, for I'll just PUT
my foot down"
martha is Il likely girl,
ssThere's Three gals and a boy baby, and
they hailllt no tall nor claim ON her.
There's hem rs would make her a good,
forehafded preyiaer. but no man WON'T
take II hull family on his hands TO onct.
It's bad enough marrying widdefs, hut
nobody wants o lot of sickJy, young ones
a-eating mp all tile substance OF a farm.
No, indeeii..
wall, you know, Mrs. 4femphill, Mar
thy feels. as if the children hes as good a
right us lerselfto the farm; they was her
fathers. Y
yes; but he didn't make no viii; and
the farm and the settin' out was all Mar
thy's own mothers, so nobody can't dis;
pute her claim. Besides, what does aslip
of q girl like hat know bout carryin' on
a farm, I'd like to know2i
tits too lad; but, us o say, she'll
find how hard it is to manage a farm. I
am greatly exercised for her, and I'll. ask
the sisterhood to make her a subject of al
address To the throne of grace. said Mrs.
Pringle rs she gave a little sigh, and
folded mp her Hitting to take her sent at.
Mrs. Hemphii's we'll filed tea table, for,
she had ridden over to spend the after
noon and have q good visit.
Jabez, Mrs. Hemphilfs only son, and
his father anne in and took their accus-
toned places, aud the father asked a very
long blessing, and reached his hand out
and captured a biscuit at the same mo-
ment that he delivered his amen.
Jabez was a handsome, frank young
fellow, Who worked very hard and had no
vices, but who possessed q fair share of
manly virtues.
He found time, somehow, after the null
hilarious dudes on q farm We're done, to
study, and 10 slip over TO the Avery farm
very often.
Being n steady and handsome young
fellow. his mother naturally looked on
him with pride, and now she felt that she
was doing her duty as a wise mother in
MISUNDERSTANDING such q foolish action on
Martha's part as adopting her three little
half ~sistess and baby brother.
Meanwhile, Martha was working, as. il
her life depended upon it, over a refrac-
tory churning, and her pretty face was
wrinkled into a frowD and her cheeks
hamed crimson, and litfle sparks of anger
seemed to shoot from her eyes that had
yet q suspicion of tears not far off.
She ierked the dasher with yindictive
little movements, as if she wished she had
some particular person under the dasher,
and withal it did seem as If that butter
was bewitched.
81 don't wonder it won't Gomez said
Martha, at last. Hateful old thing! AS
if Idepended upon her, or as i'll wanted
her 'Jabez.' | guess / can manage a
farm, at any rate, / must try, for with
Gods help / will take care of these poor
little children. Addie can help take care
of the others-and i think she is cruel
Ohl''
This exclamation was brought forth by
the sudden sight Of Jabez, as he sprung
over the fence and walked into the well
kept kitchen without a word of warning
or invitation.
He walked directly up to Martha and
clasped both of his hands around hers as
she held the stdasher,, = and said cheerily:
ssWell, Martie, how are you2 Here. you
sit down and let me do this, and / can
look at you all the while, and that will
pay me for my work.